Drivers, cyclists need to share the road

Mother's Day weekend is upon us, and you know what that means: flowers, gifts, quality time with Mom, fondly remembering precious memories of her ... and thousands of cyclists pedaling their way through the streets of Chillicothe and on the roads of southern Ohio.

The annual Tour of Scioto River Valley takes place this weekend with as many as 3,000 cyclists of all ages winding their way from Columbus to Portsmouth today before making the return trek north after an overnight stay.

It's an annual pilgrimage that invariably results in frustrated riders and drivers.

Most riders will average less than 15 mph. Motorists following a rider, or group of riders, down Ohio 104 probably would swear speeds feel more like 5 mph. Frustrated motorists, when finally seeing an opportunity to pass, might do so in an overly aggressive manner or at an unsafe distance. That aggression can blind motorists to other bikers farther up the road or oncoming traffic.

Motorists - for everyone's safety, including their own - need to take a deep breath and understand bicycles have the same right to the road as cars do.

And cyclists, that saying goes both ways.

The law gives riders the same rights to the road, but also asks they ride as far to the right as safely possible. Riders should be considerate of the motorists being delayed by their comparatively slow pace, and motorists should be considerate of riders' rights.

It also means riders need to follow the laws that apply to motorists. Red lights mean stop.

They do not mean yield, nor that it's OK to run the red because the previous five riders did just that.

Following traffic laws and respecting others on the road could save your life and will invoke goodwill from passing motorists, pedestrians and spectators watching as you pass through our community.

Remember it's Mother's Day weekend and that many of the riders - under those colorful helmets, jerseys and spandex shorts - are mothers. They also are sons and daughters.

Maybe the best rule of thumb is this: Behave like Mom is watching you.

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Drivers, cyclists need to share the road

Mother's Day weekend is upon us, and you know what that means: flowers, gifts, quality time with Mom, fondly remembering precious memories of her ... and thousands of cyclists pedaling their way